End-gate for wagons.



END GATE FOR WAGONS. APPLICATION FILED APRA. 1907.

/Z GwIyMP/Soim "19H11 uses UNITED STATES GEORGE M. PARSONS, OF OHIO, ILLINOIS.

END-GATE FOR WAGONS.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed April 3, 1907. Serial No. 366,187.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. PARsoNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohio, in the county of Bureau and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in End-Gates for lVagons, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to an end gate for farm wagons and the like of that type which is firmly locked in position so that danger of the gate jolting open o1' out and the spilling of the contents of the wagon is positively prevented. v

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and operation of devices of this character so as to be comparatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, readily manipulated, and thoroughly effective in use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tailor end gate having hingedly connected sections that are adapted to be folded and unfolded in placing and removing the gate, an automatic lock being employed for holding the sections of the gate in position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an end gate composed of a plurality of parts slidably mounted in guideways on the sides of the wagon body, the lower part being composed of sections so arranged as to be readily placed or removed without changing the position of the other part or parts of the gate.

With these objects in View and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one of the embodiments ofthe invention, Figure l is an end view of the tail gate of a wagon. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical trans` verse section on line 3-3, Fig. l.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, A designates a wagon body of ordinary construction comprising a bottom l, sides 2 and spaced members 3 on the inner surfaces of the sides to form guideways for receiving the ends of the gate members that are slidable vertically into and out of position in the usual manner, a tightening rod 4 passing through the sides of the body being employed for holding the parts of the gate clamped in position.

In the present instance, the gate is composed of two members 5 and 5f, the latter resting on the bottom l of the body and the former being held in position by the clamping of the sides of the body tightly against the ends of the member so that the lower member of the gate can be moved without the top member sliding down. The lower member is composed of two sections 6 and 7 hingedly connected by ordinary hinges 8 applied to the inner surfaces of the sections, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. This permits the meeting ends ofthe sections to be drawn outwardly so as to remove the bottom member' of the gate when it is desired to dump the grain at the elevator or other material that is contained in the wagon.

The sections are of unequal length and secured to the rear surface of the shorter section is a plate 9 that overlaps to a considerable extent the longer section. This plate has a longitudinal slot l0 over which extends a latch member Il that ishinged at its inner end to the member l2 which is screwed or otherwise suitably secured to the plate 9, the latch member being so mounted as to swing rearwardly during the unlocking of the member. The latch member is` held in closed position by a leaf spring I3 that is anchored under the hinge plate l2, as shown by dotted lines at I4 and secured to the latch member ll by extending under a staple l5 on the inner face of the member. Extending into the slot from the section 6 and latch member II is an interlocking staple 1G and hook I7, whereby the latch member prevents the sections of the gate from swinging open. Adjacent the hook I7 is a curved leaf spring 18 that serves as' a guide for directing the staple IG into engagement with the hook 17. The free end of the latch member is engaged between the lingers and swung outwardly, thereby releasing the staple I6 and hook I7, the staple 16 passing outwardly between the spring I8 and free extremity of the hook I7. In order to facilitate the gripping of the latch member, the plate 9 is notched at 19 so that .the linger can be engaged under the latch member. When the latch member is swung outwardly, the spring I3 is exed, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 2, and by pulling outwardly on the latch member, the gate member can be withdrawn, the sections thereof swinging to the dotted line position during this operation. In returning the gate member, the outer ends of the sections thereof are adjusted to the guideways formed by the members 3 and then by applying an inward pressure Ato the sections, they will assume the full line position shown in Fig. 2. During this movement of the gate sections, the staple 16 strikes the spring I8 and causes the latter to disengage from the hook I7 and also guides the hook 16 into interlocking position. In addition to the function of guiding the staple 16 into locking position, the spring 18 serves as a stop against which the free end of the hook 17 bears, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 2, to

hold the latch member in open position, and when the spring is disengaged from the hook by coming into contact with the staple IG, the latch member will immediately swing closed' by the spring 13 so that the hook and staple will interlock.

It will thus be seen that the section of the gate member 5 can be readily manipulated for placing or removing the gate member and the parts are normally held automatically in closed position.

From the foregoing description taken in connection With the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation Will/ be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and While I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together With the apparatus which I now consider to be the" and staple on the latch member and the other section ofv the gate.

2. An end gate comprising hingedly connected sections, a member xedly secured to one section and overlapping the other, a spring-actuated latch on the member, an interlockingr hook and staple on the latch member and adjacent section of the gate.

3. An end gate comprising hingedly connected sections, a plate fixed on one of the sections and overlapping the other and provided With a slot, a hinged latch member, a spring for holding the latter in normal position, and fixed interlocking devices disposed in the slot of the plate and fixed on the latch member and adjacent section of the gate.

4. An end gate comprising hingedly connected sections, a plate secured to one of the sections and overlapping the other, a hinged latch membery an interlocking hook and staple on the latch member and adjacent gate section, and a resilient member attached to the plate and serving as a stop tor holding the latch member in open position.

5. An end gate comprising hingedljr connected sections, a slotted plate secured to one of the sections and overlapping the other, a hinged latch member disposed on the slot, a leaf spring secured to the plate and latch member for holding the latter in normal positionpanV interlocking hook and staple disposed in the slot and rigidly secured to the latch member and adjacent gate seeton, and a spring secured to the plate and arranged infcoperative relation with the hook and staple for assisting in'engaging the latter and coperating with the hook to serve as a stop for holding the latch member open.

-In testimony' whereof, I attlx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE M. PARSONS.

Witnesses C. W. WInsnn, P. A. Annnnen'r. 

